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It is interesting to note that the "block books" whichpreceded the introduction of cast movable type—ascribed to Johann Gutenberg—have through the evolution oftime become, in a large way, the manner in which manymodern books are published. Thus, the history of com-mon printing has completed its circle: first, from blocksupon which a whole page was cut into relief, thenmovable type which allowed a page to be set up fromindividual pieces of type, and now the printing plate madefrom an impression of the movable type. Intaglio, or line engraving, must have been used inthe very early stages of printing. Certainly we know thatthe great goldsmiths of the Renaissance would rub lampblack or another similar substance into the engravedlines of their work and take an impression on paper tosee how they were progressing. Such impressions were,of course, intaglio printings or, as we might say,engravings. |
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